When Darren Davenport, of Accu-Coat Inc. of northeast Houston, needed a new work truck, he picked up this 1950 Chevy 1-ton flatbed pickup that has proved sturdy enough for 60 years or so.

When Darren Davenport, of Accu-Coat Inc. of northeast Houston,...

Image 2 of 4

Carlos, the dog, is in the driverâs seat of Darren Davenportâs 1950 Chevy work truck. The Davenport family has a bit of an affinity for 1950 Chevy trucks, as Darrenâs late dad, Larry, founder of Accu-Coat Inc., owned his own 1950 Chevy pickup â an orange half-ton with wide white wall tires and steel wheels.

Carlos, the dog, is in the driverâs seat of Darren...

Image 3 of 4

Once Darren Davenport put the truck to work, he discovered it had a lot more value than being a solid and stately ride from point A to point B. Customers couldnât stop talking about the best looking delivery truck in town. Davenport said it has gotten a ton of attention. A friend of Davenportâs, Roger, from California, laid down the lettering on the doors.

Once Darren Davenport put the truck to work, he discovered it had a...

When it's time to get a work truck, sometimes you have to go for something that will last.

For Darren Davenport, of Accu-Coat Inc. of northeast Houston, this 1950 Chevy 1-ton flatbed pickup had proved sturdy enough for 60 years or so, and was a perfect fit. It didn't hurt that the family has a bit of an affinity for the 1950 Chevy trucks.

Davenport's father, Larry, had 30 years' experience when he opened Accu-Coat in 1997. Providing industrial coatings of material such as xylan, PTFE, moly, phosphate and epoxy for businesses around Houston, the company has remained a family business, even after Larry passed away in 2006. They also do powder coating for car and motorcycle customers, giving a solid and secure finish to the vehicles.

Davenport had grown up around old cars and motorcycles since his father had a love for them, and credits his gearheadness to his dad's influence. The elder Davenport owned his own 1950 Chevy pickup - an orange half-ton with wide white wall tires and steel wheels - that Darren now owns, and father and son were big fans of that year's trucks.

"Big round features, solid, built strong," he said. It is why he knows Dad would approve of the current company truck, and said, "I'm sure he would be fighting me for the keys to the truck, if he was still here."

When the driver Accu-Coat was using was having problems with his work truck, business suffered, "missing order pick-ups and deliveries from customers," Davenport said. It was time to get something more reliable.

Davenport made the tough choice to sacrifice his 1967 custom Harley shovelhead, which he had owned for a decade, and buy a new shop truck. He then found this big, gorgeous beast, and he went and, "just bought this truck from a rich guy."

Once he put the truck to work, though, he discovered it had a lot more value than being a solid and stately ride from point A to point B. Customers couldn't stop talking about the best looking delivery truck in town. Davenport said it has gotten a ton of attention.

"I drove the truck on random pick-ups and deliveries, and my customers went crazy, wondering why I would use that truck for work. My reply, 'Look at it, it's a work truck!' "

The classic hauler has the original six-cylinder engine and four-speed transmission, and the original rear end. Davenport's friend, Roger, from California, laid down the lettering on the doors. He said the Chevy tops out around 55 mph and has no air conditioning, but, other than replacing the exhaust and doing some electrical work, it runs and works great.

As for Dad's 1950, Darren plans to undergo a complete restoration of that truck very soon. Let's hope when it is done he lets me share that one with you, too.